Entries for the 2026 Waterford Business Awards open on Monday, August 10th, with the gala awards ceremony taking place on Friday, November 13th in the Tower Hotel.

The awards, organised by Waterford Chamber in collaboration with Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber, and supported by Waterford City & County Council and WLR, recognise excellence in business across Waterford City and County.

Launching the awards, Waterford Chamber President Eadaoin Carrick said, “The Waterford Business Awards continue to celebrate the very best of enterprise across our region, showcasing the innovation, ambition and resilience that make Waterford such a strong place to do business. This year’s awards feature a refreshed range of categories, ensuring businesses of all sizes and sectors have the opportunity to be recognised. From start-ups and entrepreneurs to established industry leaders, these awards shine a spotlight on those driving economic growth and community impact across the city and county. We would encourage businesses to take this opportunity to enter now and reflect on their achievements over the past year. Entering the awards is a valuable opportunity to recognise success, celebrate your team, and raise your profile.”

Tommie Murphy, President of Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber, added, “We are encouraging businesses from across the county to get involved. The awards are a fantastic opportunity to benchmark your progress, celebrate your successes, and connect with the wider business community. The awards night itself is always a highlight in the business calendar.”

Michael Byrne, CEO of WLR, said, “WLR is delighted to once again partner on the Waterford Business Awards. It is more important than ever to recognise and celebrate the innovation, entrepreneurship and excellence within our local business community, and these awards provide a powerful platform to do just that.”

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Photograph: Patrick Browne

Award Categories

The full list of categories is as follows:

  • Business of the Year (up to 20 based in the South East region) – sponsored by Waterford Chamber Skillnet
  • Business of the Year (up to 100 based in the South East region) – sponsored by AIB Bank
  • Business of the Year (100+ based in the South East region) – sponsored by EY
  • Customer Service Excellence – sponsored by Liberty Blue 
  • Environmental & Sustainability – sponsored by ESB
  • Retail Excellence – sponsored by VHI Healthcare 
  • Food & Beverage – sponsored by PwC
  • Best in Hospitality – sponsored by Hygiene.ie 
  • Marketing Excellence – sponsored by Totem 
  • New Business of the Year – sponsored by Waterford LEO
  • Excellence in Innovation – sponsored by Dawn Meats
  • The Visit Waterford Award – sponsored by House of Waterford Crystal
  • Best Not-For-Profit Award – sponsored by Eirgrid 
  • Entrepreneur of the Year (application and judges’ discretion) – sponsored by Parker Law
  • Special Recognition Awards (Judges’ Choice) – sponsored by Faithlegg
  • Think Waterford First Award (Chamber initiative) – sponsored by Buíon Phort Láirge
  • Overall Waterford Business of the Year – sponsored by Waterford City & County Council

All businesses located in Waterford City and County are encouraged to enter, whether they are Chamber members or not.

Entries can be submitted via: https://www.waterfordchamber.ie/what-we-do/waterford-business-awards/

For more information, contact Lynda.lawton@waterfordchamber.ie or call: 087-937-9894.